A double from from Romelu Lukaku secured a 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win for Manchester United against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, despite another controversial moment involving VAR.
The Belgium international struck early in each half to secure a quarter-final spot for Jose Mourinho’s side and end their run of back-to-back away defeats.
Victory came despite Juan Mata seeing a first-half strike disallowed after a VAR referral, with the contentious decision prompting more debate about the merits of video technology.
United, who were without the ill Paul Pogba or goalkeeper David de Gea, took the lead three minutes in when Mata’s pass was finished in style by Lukaku.
Huddersfield, winners in the home Premier League game against United in October, were largely the better team in the first half but could not trouble Sergio Romero unduly, and they were given a boost when Mata’s goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR consultation.
United put the game beyond Huddersfield’s control 10 minutes after the restart, though, as Lukaku struck again to seal safe passage to the last eight and give his side a morale boost ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Sevilla.
